Share This Story!

Browning charges tribe trying to take over water, sewer

The town of Browning has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court alleging the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council (BTBC) is attempting to illegally take over the town’s water, sewer and garbage disposal utility infrastructure.

Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Browning charges tribe trying to take over water, sewer

David Murray, dmurray@greatfallstribune.com
Published 9:43 p.m. MT April 14, 2014

Buy Photo

Mike LaMere, center, and George Heavy Runner, of the Blackfeet Tribal Planning Office, inspect the intake pipeline of the Blackfeet Community Water Project during construction in 2003.
(Photo:
Tribune File Photo
)Buy Photo

The town of Browning has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court alleging the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council (BTBC) is attempting to illegally take over the town’s water, sewer and garbage disposal utility infrastructure.

Among other things, the complaint alleges that a tribal attorney stole the town’s utility customer lists, and that the BTBC has engaged in fraud and racketeering by mailing false billing notices to customers in Browning.

The complaint stems from the construction of a $22 million water system, built over a 10-year period and designed to bring clean drinking water to more than 8,200 people in the Browning and East Glacier areas. The Blackfeet Community Water System was completed in 2012.

According to the complaint, the town of Browning has provided water utility services for Browning residents since at least 1934. In the fall of 2013, the BTBC began sending notices to Browning residents directing them to remit their sewer and water payments to the Two Medicine Water Company, a utility company owned by the tribe.

The town of Browning is seeking a court order to stop the BTBC from billing Browning customers and from interfering with the town’s operation of water, sewer and garbage infrastructure.